Press Releases

Change to I-195 Traffic Patterns Scheduled for Next Week

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) today announced that another shift to the temporary traffic patterns on I-195 in Providence will go into effect next week. Ongoing preventive maintenance work will still require a divided highway configuration between the I-95 interchange and the Gano Street exits, but the next shift will change the number of lanes on either side of the split.

Effective Wednesday, May 31, Motorists traveling on I-195 East will encounter a lane split with two lanes to the left and two to the right of the split. Drivers on I-195 West will experience the new traffic pattern effective Thursday, June 1. Currently, there are three lanes to the left and one lane to the right of the split. It is important to note that all lanes are through traffic lanes that continue onto I-195.

Drivers should proceed with caution through the work zone without stopping. The temporary traffic patterns on I-195 East will result in some restrictions for traffic seeking to take Exit 2 (India Street). Those driving from I-95 South to I-195 East will not have access to Exit 2 during this stage of the project. A signed detour will be established using Exit 5 to reverse direction to I-195 West, then to Exit 3 (Gano Street).

Lane closures will overnight Tuesday night on I-195 East and Wednesday on I-195 West starting at 8 p.m. to establish the new traffic patterns. Once the traffic patterns are in place, construction activities will take place behind the protective barrier with no lane closures necessary during daytime and peak travel periods.

Every two to three weeks, the traffic pattern is modified as RIDOT replaces bridge joints across all lanes of travel. The anticipated schedule for the next stages of the I-195 bridge joint work is as follows:

Stage 3: (Late May – Mid-June) A divided highway with two lanes to the left and two lanes to the right.

Stage 4. (Mid-June – Late June): A divided highway with one lane to the left and three lanes to the right.

Stage 5. (Late June – Mid-July): All lanes shift to the right and the left shoulder will be closed.

The entire $3.2 million Providence Area Bridges Project is on time and on budget, and is scheduled for final completion by the end of 2017.

The Providence Area Bridges Project is made possible by RhodeWorks, RIDOT's ongoing commitment to repair structurally deficient bridges and bring Rhode Island's transportation infrastructure into a state of good repair, promote economic development, and create jobs. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

All dates and times are weather-dependent and subject to change. Visit www.dot.ri.gov or follow RIDOTnews on Facebook or Twitter for timely information on construction projects and traffic conditions.